About the Book

Stressing the interrelatedness of the many facets of communication, this introductory text explores major theories by locating those ideas and concepts in the context of current, cultural issues. The authors' narrative approach helps students more easily see the connections to their daily lives, and public communication is reframed within this text as public advocacy, helping students become critical, active citizens in their communities. By recognizing that they are members of a complex system of power that both enables and constrains their actions, students are able to explore the ways their communication constitutes and frames their social world.

Communicating Culture provides a context to see communication as both productive of power and a productive way of envisioning social movement against unethical or unjust power.

Table of Contents:
Preface PART I: FIRST PRINCIPLES 1. Thinking Critically About Communication in Culture The Foundations of Our Dialogue: Terms and Common Understandings Words for Change: The Power of Communication Public Advocacy: Process and Responsibilities 2. Communication and Power: A Cultural History Part One: The Rhetorical Tradition Part Two: The Elocution Era Part Three: The Move to Science Part Four: Social Constructionism Part Five: The Critical/Cultural Turn A Moral: Lessons From Our Story of a Discipline Public Advocacy: Purpose, Audience, and Voice 3. Public Advocacy: Commitments and Responsibility What Is Public Advocacy? A Model for Advocacy: Paulo Freire Listening as Public Advocacy Public Advocacy: Integrity in Argumentation PART II: COMMUNICATION PROCESSES AND SKILLS 4. Identity and Perception Who Is Harper? Three Communication Paradigms Public Advocacy: Perception and Audience Analysis 5. Language and Culture Semiotics: Structure and Symbols A Post-Semiotic Approach to Language Language as Constitutive: Ideology and Everyday Speech Public Advocacy: Inclusive Language 6. Embodied Knowing and Nonverbal Communication Body Epistemology: Knowing Body Identity: Being Body Language: Communicating Body Intentionality Public Advocacy: The Body as a Resource PART III: COMMUNICATION CONTEXTS 7. Language and Power in Our Cultural Lives Myth 1: Culture Is Static Myth 2: Culture and Power Are Separate Myth 3: Stereotypes Are Built on Truths Myth 4: Progress Is Progress Myth 5: Colorblindness Is Progress Myth 6: We′re All Making a Big Deal Out of Nothing From Myths to Critical Understanding Public advocacy: Academic Integrity and Citationality 8. Cultural Relations: Relationships in Culture Of Self and Other Of Frames and Play Of Patterns and Rituals Of Change and Relational Dialectics Of I and Thou Public Advocacy: Building Relationships, Context, and Listening 9. Mediated Culture(s) Con-constitution: Media in Our Cultural Lives Consuming Mediated Messages Your Mediated Self Surveillance Media Use, Culture(s) and Power Resistance Public Advocacy: Visual Aids and Organization 10. Communication as a Means of Social Action Discipline Simulacra Difference Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Nihilism Public Avocacy: Tactics for Social Action Glossary Index About the Author